Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
June 2, 2015

Golf Experience Caribbean is partnering with Sandals Resorts International as title sponsor for its 2015 International Pairs Caribbean series of qualifying tournaments.

The winning two-person team from each qualifier will earn an all expenses paid trip to represent their country at the International Pairs World Finals at the Denia Marriott Golf La Sella Resort & Spa, Spain from October 27 to 31.

Since 2009, Caribbean golfers have been afforded the opportunity to participate in the World Finals, and peaked in 2012 when cricketing icon Sir Vivian Richards graced the event with his presence.

Sir Viv has encouraged every amateur golfer in the Caribbean to jump at the opportunity.

“This is a great initiative by Sandals and having experienced the International Pairs World Finals myself, it has been the pinnacle of my golfing experience so far. The qualifiers will be hard fought,” he said.

Sandals’ chief executive officer, Adam Stewart, said: “The local, regional and international reach presented by this partnership fits perfectly in to the core principles of Sandals’ ethos of supporting sports in the Caribbean. Here, we have an opportunity to take what is best about regional golf and sports in general to a world stage.”

Chief executive officer of Golf Experience Caribbean, Zorol Barthley, said it was hoped that this would be the launch into a long-term partnership with Sandals Resorts.

“We have collaborated in the past, as Sandals have always been supportive of our events. However, we are hoping that this firmer footprint will see us entering into a long-lasting relationship; one where regional golfers will annually look forward to the Sandals Resorts International Pairs series; and one that will grow to be inclusive of all the islands of the Caribbean in the not too distant future,” he said.

Over 30 countries are represented at the annual World Finals, and the Caribbean’s representatives take on an ambassadorial role, showcasing the sports tourism value of the region.

In addition to Sir Viv, other top regional sporting figures have participated in previous editions of International Pairs Caribbean, such as Brian Lara, Dwight Yorke, Jeffrey Dujon, Franklyn Stephenson, Sir Richie Richardson and Eldine Baptiste.